Newport Hospital, through its Frederick Henry Prince Memorial Fund, has awarded $55,980 to organizations to help fund creative programs that keep Newport County children healthy and active.

Activities that will benefit from the funding range from ballet classes for underprivileged youth, to fitness classes for teens experiencing difficult emotional times, to helping kids build a wooden boat and then sail it.

“Kids often need motivation to stay healthy and realize the benefits of fitness and exercise. The programs Newport Hospital is helping to fund will do just that,” said Arthur Sampson, president of Newport Hospital. “We received an incredible array of proposals for this year’s program. And, we’re pleased to be able to help support programs that show that exercise can be fun and become a part of everyday life.”

Established in 2010 through a grant from the Frederick Henry Prince 1932 Trust, the Frederick Henry Prince Memorial Fund focuses on ways to combat child and adolescent obesity, as well as the abuse of alcohol and drugs, by encouraging projects that promote physical activity as a way to have fun. To date, nearly $140,000 has been awarded to local organizations.

According Guillaume de Ramel, who has served on the committee that oversees the fund and whose family provided the initial grant to start it, finding innovative ways to make living a healthy lifestyle important to kids and their families is what the fund is all about.

“Our goal is to encourage and support ‘athletic entrepreneurs’ who can think creatively about ways to incorporate exercise into activities that kids will love,” said de Ramel. “Since the fund was established, it has been exciting and rewarding to see the ways local organizations are thinking about providing fitness opportunities to kids, especially to those kids who ordinarily would not have the financial means to participate.”

Recipients and the projects the funding will support include:

Child & Family Services of Newport ($5,000): The “Ophelia and Iron John After School Program” is specifically geared toward teenagers experiencing difficult, emotional times. Teenagers are given the opportunity to socialize and engage in yoga, kickboxing, hip hop boot camp, martial arts, and weight lifting.

Island Moving Company ($7,500): An after school dance scholarship program will provide second and third graders in Newport schools with the opportunity to attend weekly ballet classes and a recital in June.

Rhody Squash ($10,000): An after-school program teaches squash to students after students complete an hour of academic tutoring. The members of the squash team also participate in volunteering in the community once a month.

Island Rugby ($5,000): The “Rugby Boy’s U16 & U19 Project will invite Newport boys between the ages of 13 and 18 to participate on Rugby teams and compete locally.

FabNewport ($5,000): The “Float Your Boat” project will give Newport youth, from the ages of 14 to 18, the opportunity to build and sail boats on the Newport waterfront.

International Tennis Hall of Fame ($5,000): This program will fund Newport youth who want to participate in junior tennis programs.

Norman Bird Sanctuary ($6,780): The “Teen Trail Guide Program” been designed so that teenagers can be trail guides and role models during summer camp. The teenagers will also lead hikes for individuals and families on the weekends.

Bike Newport ($9,200): The “Bike Garage North” program encourages children to ride bicycles and explore their surroundings. The program is intended to keep children physically active, while also raising their confidence and having fun.

Star Kids ($2,500): Program for Star Kids’ after school and summer activities.